Filling machine



3 Sheets-'She-et l INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Oct. 13, 1942. H. R. BALDWIN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 1'7, 1940 Oct. 13, 1942. H. R. BALDWIN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i. M mm T ma m d. 0 ,3 9 y. 9 .n

H. R. BALDWIN FILLING 'MACHINE Filed April 17, 1940 oct. 13; 1942; y

mvENToR. fswaw A? 50m/wy BY ATTORNEY,

Patented Oct. 13, 1942 UNITE FILLING' MACHINE Harold R. Baldwin, Carpentersville, Ill., assignor to Elgin Manufacturing Company, a corporation or Illinois Application April 17, 1940, Serial No. 330,177

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in filling machines and like devices.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in filling machines of the rotary turret type in which measured quantities of plastic or semi-solids are adapted to be discharged into cans or containers for the same.

Various food products and particularly spiced meat, sausage, corned beef and other similar semi-solid food products are at the present time being placed in rectangular, square, triangular and other shaped containers in contrast with the standard round container which has been used in the past. In order to secure a proper fill for containers of the diierent shapes mentioned, it has been found necessary to make similar changes in the valve and discharge mechanism. One of the reasons is that with the customary round valve opening and valve housing through which materials are discharged the fill has not been properly packed in the odd shaped container. With certain products it has been found that by using a round valve housing and plunger the plastic material ejected into a square or rectangular can will assume an odd shape such as a ball or other irregular lump and will not properly pack into the corners of the container.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide in a iilling machine an improved construction of valve housing and plunger capable of discharging a fill under pressure into a container that is not cylindrical.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve and discharge port construction whereby irregularly shaped cans or con- I tainers may be filled and properly packed with a plastic material under pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve and valve housing for a filling machine capable of packing rectangular cans or containers with a plastic or semi-solid food product in such a manner that the container will be completely lled and each-container will have the same amount of ll.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, upon which Fig. l isl a vertical cross sectional View of a filling machine of the type to which my improved valve mechanism is applicable;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the reservoir with one of the valve housings and associated mechanism attached to the same; 55 has the two parallel Sides 34 and the two para11e1 l Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the valve housing and associated parts taken generally on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Certain features of lling machines at present on the market may be adapted to be used with the particular valve and plug structure which form the subject matter of my invention. One well-known type is shown in the patent to Ayars, No. 1,073,067. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings I have provided a base I0 which supports a vertically disposed main drive shaft I2 in a suitable bearing I4 in the bottom wall thereof. A suitable bevel gear I6 may be keyed to the shaft I2 and mesh with a pinion I8 secured to the end of a drive shaft 20 mounted vin suitable bearings 22 and 24 connected to the main base I0. A drive sprocket 26 is keyed to the shaft 20. The drive sprocket may be connected with a motor or other suitable source of power (not shown).

A support ring 28 may be mounted upon the main base I0. The table support arms 30 and 32 may extend upwardly therefrom and be connected with the table 34. A pair of upper legs 36 and 38 may extend upwardly from the table 34 to carry the valve cam track assembly 40. A pair of bolts 42 and 44 may extend .downwardly through suitable arms on an upper yoke 46 and connect the same tothe upright members 35 and 38.

The rotary table 48 and reservoir bottom 50 are connected to the vertical shaft I2 in such manner that the cylinders 52', measuring pistons 54l and piston guides 56 all rotate with the shaft I2. The piston guides are provided With the usual roller 58 which travels in a trackl to regulate the movement of the pistons 54.

The cylinders 52 communicate through a passageway 62 with the valve housings 64. Material to be packed in containers enters the cylinders 52 through a conduit 66 that is connected to the upper reservoir plate 68 which is stationary and positioned above the reservoir bottom 50. The plate 68 may be raised or lowered by means of the screw 'I0 and the hand wheels l2.

The valves 64 which form the subject matter of this invention, may be constructed of split housing parts 14 and I6 secured together by suitable bolt members 'I8. The inner housing member 'I4 is fastened to the rotating reservoir 80 by suitable bolt members 82. The valve housing thus formed is provided with a chamber that sides 86 forming in effect a rectangularly shaped chamber generally complementary to the size of a container which it is desired to fill. The same chamber may be provided in a downwardly directed extension 88 of the housing which is formed with a comparatively thin wall so that the same can enter one of the containers C and be gradually withdrawn as the material is moved into the container.

The valve plug 99 is of a shape that is complementary to the chamber formed in the valve housing and is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly by means of the roller 92 connected to the upper end of the same. The roller 92 moves in the cam track 94 as the reservoir rotates and raises and lowers the valve plug at the proper time for charging the valve housing with material to be placed in the container and for discharging the same.

The passageway 62 from the iill cylinders 52 to the valve housing, communicates with the port 9| in the wall of the valve housing member 14. The port Si, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a restricted opening 93 intermediate the two sides so that material that is forced into the valve housing is directed with more pressure through the ends of the opening than at the middle. This is for the purpose of permitting the material to form into a rectangular shape in the valve housing before the same is pressed downwardly into a container. I have found by experimentation that with certain kinds of meat products which are cured for a longer period of time than others that unless this is done there is a tendency for more material to flow through the center of the opening, causing material to be discharged into a container without taking the substantially rectangular shape which is desired. However, for all ordinary types of meat products and those which are not cured in any unusual manner, it is not ing station directly below the pipe 66, they are directed downwardly by means of the rollers 58 and the cam track Si) so that a charge may be drawn into the cylinder 52. This charge will ll the cylinder 52 and the cross-passageway 62. The material can not pass into the valve housing formed of the parts 14 and 16 by reason of the position of the plug 90 in the valve housing. As the table 48 is rotated the valve plug 99 will be drawn up by means of the roller 92 and cam track 94. Containers to be filled may be fed on to the revolving table 48 by hand or by a suitable star-wheel conveyor. These cans enter the can gauges or pockets 2l which are mounted upon the revolving table 24, one pocket being positioned adjacent each of the can raising members 23.

The can raising members are controlled by a cam track which is circular and supported upon suitable brackets 21 from the upright arms 3i! and 32. The 4can raising members 23 have downwardly disposed arms 29 mounted in suitable vertical guides 3l to control their up and down movement. Rollers mounted on the arms 29 are provided to raise and lower the can support members 23 in timed relation with the operation 75 azoaooo of the valves 9E) and the discharge pistons 54. The can raising members 23 are adapted to raise a can as shown in Fig. 4 to telescope the thinwalled extension 88 of the valve housing within the same. Thus, when a can is placed in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the mechanism described, the valve plug 90 is raised, the piston 54 moves upwardly and under pressure directs the oW of the plastic material comprising the fill through the passageway 62 into the rectangularly shaped valve Chamber, where the lower end of the plug 90 forms the upper wall of the chamber, and the mass is moved downwardly into the container.

As the container, by reason of its rotary movement in the can gauge 2| is moved around and the can support 29 is gradually withdrawn to remove the can from the end of the portion 88 of the housing, the Valve plug 90 also descends and under pressure packs the plastic material into the can. The timing of the mechanism is so arranged that as the lower end of the extension 88 clears the top edge of the can, the plug 99 will reach a position with its bottom end fiush with the opening in the extension 88. Thus it can be seen that the can has been packed under pressure with a plastic material which has been formed to a shape to conform to the interior shape of the container.

The retention of the nozzle or extension 8B in the can serves both as a means for preventing material from flowing out of the can as it is being discharged into the same under pressure, and as a guide for the plug 99 which forces the material under pressure into the can. The size of the filling cylinder 52, passageway S2 and the interior of the Valve 64, is such that when a plastic mass is discharged therefrom under pressure into a can, a certain specified weight will be obtained. This is important in that in certain standard size cans of food products mentioned, a variation of only one-half ounce in weight is permitted. Consequently, the filling must be accurately done.

From the above and foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that due to the particular shape of the valve housing and the valve plug, material which is semi-solid in consistency is formed in the discharge valve to the desired shape it is to take when placed in a container and is discharged in this shape into the container. From the foregoing description it will be obvious that in order to secure a square fill for a square can, it can be accomplished by making the valve housing and Valve of the desired shape. In the same manner, if it is desired to pack a triangular, hexagonal, oval or other shaped container with a semi-solid material, the same is accomplished by making the valve and valve housing of the desired shape.

While I have illustrated and described a specie embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the details shown. I do not wish to limit myself in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In Valve construction for filling machines, a valve housing having a rectangular vertically positioned chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet port in one wall thereof, said port being rectangular and positioned cross-wise to the length of said chamber, the discharge outlet therefrom being at the lower end and a valve plug fitted in said chamber and capable of reciprocation therein.

2. In valve construction for filling machines, a valve housing formed of split halves adapted when connected together to form a rectangular vertically positioned chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet port in one wall thereof, said port being rectangular but having a restricted portion intermediate its ends and positioned cross-wise to the length of said chamber, the discharge outlet therefrom being at the lower end and a valve plug tted in said chamber and capable of reciprocation therein.

3. In valve construction for filiing machines, a valve housing formed of split halves adapted when connected together to form a rectangular vertically positioned chamber therein, said chamber having an inlet port in one wall thereof, said port being rectangular but having a restricted portion intermediate its ends and positioned f cross-wise to the length of said chamber, the discharge outlet therefrom being at the lower end and a valve plug tted in said chamber and capable of reciprocation therein, said housing terminating at its lower end in a thin-walled sleeve adapted to enter a can to be lled.

4, The combination with a nlling machine for plastic material including a rotatable table, a series of cylinders and pistons rotatable with the table and a conveyor for containers which raises the containers up under the lling valves to be filled, of a series of Outlet valves, one for each cylinder for controlling the discharge therefrom, each of said outlet valves comprising a housing having a rectangularly shaped chamber therein,

a rectangularly shaped valve plug adapted to be moved up and down in said chamber, one wall of said housing having a horizontally disposed opening the size of said valve plug to permit the introduction into said housing of -plastic material from said lling machine shaped to fit in the chamber in said housing, said opening having a restricted portion intermediate its ends, said housing having a downwardly disposed rectangularly shaped nozzle portion adapted to enter a container and slowly be withdrawn as the container is being filled and lowered.

5. The combination with a filling machine for filling containers having a chamber therein of a defined size and shape and having an opening in the upper end of the same size and shape with a plastic material under pressure, including a rotatable table, a series of cylinders and pistons rotatable with the table, of a series of outlet valves, one for each cylinder for controlling the discharge therefrom, each of said outlet valves comprising a housing having a chamber therein of the same shape as the opening in the container, a complementary shaped valve plug therein adapted to be moved up and down in said chamber, one wall of said housing having an opening therein the size of said valve plug to permit the introduction into said housing of plastic material from said filling machine shaped to fit in the chamber in said housing, said valve housing having a thin walled downwardly eX- tending sleeve portion with a continuation 0f the size and shape of the chamber therein, said sleeve portion being substantially the same size as the opening in the container and adapted to enter the container to be filled to align the same.

6. The combination with a filling machine for filling containers having a chamber therein of a dened size and shape and having an opening in the upper end of the same size and shape with a plastic material under pressure, of the type including a rotatable table, a series of cylinders and pistons rotatable with the table and a conveyor which brings the containers up under the filling valves to be iilled, of a series of outlet valves, one for each cylinder for controlling the discharge therefrom, each of said outlet valves comprising a housing having a chamber therein of the same shape as the opening in the container, a complementary shaped valve plug adapted to be moved up and down in said chamber, one wall of said housing having an opening therein the size of said valve plug to permit the introduction into said housing of plastic material from said filling machine shaped to fit in the chamber in said housing, said plug adapted in its downward movement to pack material under pressure in said container as the same is lowered from the end of the outlet valve.

'7. The combination with a filling machine for filling containers having a chamber therein of a defined size and shape and having an opening in the upper end of the same size and shape with a plastic material under pressure, of the type including a rotatable table, a series of cylinders and pistons rotatable with the table and a conveyor which brings the containers up under the lling valves to be filled, of a series of outlet valves, one for each cylinder for controlling the discharge therefrom, each of said outlet valves comprising a housing having a chamber therein of the same shape as the opening in the container, a complementary shaped valve plug adapted to be moved up and down in said chamber, one wall of said housing having an opening therein the size of said valve plug to permit the introduction into said housing of plastic material from said filling machine shaped to nt in the chamber in said housing, each of said valve housings having a downwardly depending sleeve portion adapted to be telescoped into a container to be filled, and said plug adapted in its downward movement to pack material under pressure in said container as the same is lowered from the end of the outlet valve.

HAROLD R. BALDWIN. 

